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Thomas Rotch Letter Concerning Treatment of Quakers During the War of 1812

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[page 1]
[corresponds to page 1 of Thomas Rotch Letter Concerning Treatment of Quakers During the War of 1812]
Kendal Stark Co Ohio 2nd 1813
Dear Brothers & Sisters
Knowing that the present situation of
Our once highly favoured Country must,(and as it respects our own society
Especially) concern you, and as [carrot mark] this [above carrot mark] letter will be confined to your selves,and
Such of your friends as have your confidence, I shall the more freely ex-
=presss occurrences as they arise without fear of an improper use being made
of it. Having for a considerable time, felt my mind impressed with
a concern on account of the probable suffering of friends in this State in
[word crossed out] the prosecution of the present war, without seeing any other way
for relief than a journey to the Seat of government which I com=
=municated to my CR who as usual seemed willing to submit to an
absence of several weeks for the purpose, but as Our Quarterly
meeting was at hand I thought I would attend that previous
to any conclusion feeling a degree of confidence that if it was
right some way would open for it, an getting in the neighbour
=hood of Salem I fell in with our friend Wm Wood of Short Creek
Quarter of whom I made some enquiries that led him to im
=part that a concern had arisen in their Quarter to address
the legislator but that it did not find its way to effect.
but in our Quarter Friends were unanimous in the concur-
=rence of the subject of addressing a Memorial to them &
a skedule having been prepared previous & now presented it
was read and with some alteration was signed by the Clerk &
committed to the cars of four friends to present two to whom
attended tot the appointment William Heald & myself and
on the tenth of first month after Our Meeting on first day
I left home and at Short Creek we were united with my
Our Friends Joseph Steen & Wm Wood and here Our spirits were
effected by reading the Governors Speech to the Senate & House of
representative-wherein he says something like this "that
however amiable conscientious scruples are in time of peace
it is a subject worthy your consideration now for they
ought to be tolerated in time of war. We proceeded heavily
on our journey and reach the seat of Government the
evening before the day that [carrot mark] such part of [above carrot mark] a Malitia Bill just re-
=vised as concerned us would be read in the Senate. soon after
our arrival such Members as were concerned for the welfare
of Our Society came to see us, Vitz James McMillin &

[page 1]
[corresponds to page 1 of Thomas Rotch Letter Concerning Treatment of Quakers During the War of 1812]
Kendal Stark Co Ohio 2nd 1813
Dear Brothers & Sisters
Knowing that the present situation of
Our once highly favoured Country must,(and as it respects our own society
Especially) concern you, and as [carrot mark] this [above carrot mark] letter will be confined to your selves,and
Such of your friends as have your confidence, I shall the more freely ex-
=presss occurrences as they arise without fear of an improper use being made
of it. Having for a considerable time, felt my mind impressed with
a concern on account of the probable suffering of friends in this State in
[word crossed out] the prosecution of the present war, without seeing any other way
for relief than a journey to the Seat of government which I com=
=municated to my CR who as usual seemed willing to submit to an
absence of several weeks for the purpose, but as Our Quarterly
meeting was at hand I thought I would attend that previous
to any conclusion feeling a degree of confidence that if it was
right some way would open for it, an getting in the neighbour
=hood of Salem I fell in with our friend Wm Wood of Short Creek
Quarter of whom I made some enquiries that led him to im
=part that a concern had arisen in their Quarter to address
the legislator but that it did not find its way to effect.
but in our Quarter Friends were unanimous in the concur-
=rence of the subject of addressing a Memorial to them &
a skedule having been prepared previous & now presented it
was read and with some alteration was signed by the Clerk &
committed to the cars of four friends to present two to whom
attended tot the appointment William Heald & myself and
on the tenth of first month after Our Meeting on first day
I left home and at Short Creek we were united with my
Our Friends Joseph Steen & Wm Wood and here Our spirits were
effected by reading the Governors Speech to the Senate & House of
representative-wherein he says something like this "that
however amiable conscientious scruples are in time of peace
it is a subject worthy your consideration now for they
ought to be tolerated in time of war. We proceeded heavily
on our journey and reach the seat of Government the
evening before the day that [carrot mark] such part of [above carrot mark] a Malitia Bill just re-
=vised as concerned us would be read in the Senate. soon after
our arrival such Members as were concerned for the welfare
of Our Society came to see us, Vitz James McMillin &